May 29, 2006

Elaphreported on the rally held in Paris, which was called for by the Committee for Syrian National Democratic Action (a Europe-based group of Syrian intellectuals and activists) on May 23 in solidarity with Syrian political detainees (Arabic. 5/24/06).

According to the report, many Arab, Iranian, French, and Italian political representatives, intellectual figures, and human rights activists participated in the rally as well and raised banners calling for the release of the various political detainees and calling for freedom for the Syrian people and democracy in Syria.

Professor and dissident Dr. Burhan Ghalyoun gave a short speech at the event, and so did representatives from the French Communist Party and the French Socialist Party. A representative from the Lebanese Democratic Left also gave a speech on behalf of the party and the Lebanese intellectuals in which he called for a free democratic Syria alongside an independent democratic Lebanon. (The speech was published by ME Transparent [Arabic. 5/24/06]).

May 26, 2006

On June 2, there will be a sit-in in Beirut to mark the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Lebanese journalist and activist Samir Qassir. (Arabic. AKI, 5/25/06). The sit-in, according to AKI, is being organized by Lebanese intellectuals as well as media, human rights, and civil society organizations.

The gathering will also be an act of solidarity with jailed Syrian intellectuals and activists Michel Kilo, Anwar al-Bunni, Fateh Jamous, Ali Abdallah and his sons, Aref Dalilah, and all other detainees. Qassir had close ties with Syrian dissident intellectuals and activists who he helped publish in the leading Lebanese daily An-Nahar. His assassination last year is widely viewed as the work of the Syrian regime.

The Lebanese Democratic Left organized a rally on May 23 in front of the UN headquarters in Beirut to commemorate Qassir's death and to express solidarity with Syrian political prisoners.

AKI also reported that Syrian dissidents are organizing a sit-in in front of the Syrian embassy in London on June 1 to express solidarity with the prisoners of conscience in Syria, and to mark the one-year memorial of the assassination of Kurdish Sheikh Muhammad Maashouq al-Khaznawi.

The secretary general of the London-based Syrian Democratic Current, Muhyiddine al-Ladqani, clarified that the participants will be members of various human rights organizations and political movements from the Syrian community in London. They will demand the establishment of "an independent investigative commission into the murder of Sheikh Khaznawi, who was assassinated by the Syrian regime," and they will protest "the Syrian authorities' crackdown targeting Syrian intellectuals," who have signed the Beirut-Damascus Declaration. They will also call for the release of all prisoners of conscience and opinion, and for the ending the series of arrests, assassinations, and targeting of civil society and human rights activists." He also threatened to besiege Syrian embassies all over Europe with peaceful sit-ins.

AKI reports that the Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR) has called for a sit-in next Saturday in the Human Rights Square in Paris to call for the release of prisoners of conscience in Syria (Arabic. AKI via "Free Syria," 5/25/06). The spokesman for the AOHR, Dr. Haitham al-Manna', praised the declaration by 32 Arab and European NGOs that they would participate in the sit-in.

"Saturday's sit-in in Paris is part of a series of activities in Europe aimed at calling on European and international Human Rights organizations to put an end to arbitrary detentions in Syria and the Arab world," Manna' said.

According to Manna', there has also been contact with the European Parliament, part of an effort to persuade it to pass a resolution condemning arbitrary arrests in Syria. Similarly, there has been contact with organizations concerned with the defense and protection of journalists, since many of the Syrian detainees are journalists.

The AOHR had launched an international petition calling for the release of all prisoners of conscience and condemning "systematic repression" by the Syrian regime. It labeled the latest wave of arrests "part of the dictatorial and totalitarian policy of the regime [which includes]: systematic abuse of freedoms and human rights, extra-judicial and arbitrary arrests, torturing, terrorizing, and mock trials." The petition mentioned the names of the detainees like Michel Kilo, Fateh Jamous and Anwar al-Bunni, along with other imprisoned activists such as Aref Dalilah, Ali Abdallah, Nizar Rastanawi, and Riad Drar.

May 23, 2006

The Committee for Syrian National Democratic Action in Europe called for a gathering tonight in front of the Institut du Monde Arabe in solidarity with democracy and human rights activists and to protest the Syrian regime's crackdown on freedom of expression, and to pressure the regime to free all political prisoners, abolish emergency laws in effect since 1963, and respect international human rights treaties (Arabic. Elaph, 5/23/06).

Various intellectuals, academics, and civil society activists supported the idea and many prominent figures, such as Professor Burhan Ghalyoun and the prominent Lebanese-Syrian poet Adonis, announced they will participate. Also, representatives from the French Communist, Socialist and Green parties, as well as representatives from the Lebanese Democratic Left party, said they would attend.

A statement by the Committee called on the Syrian people and Arab, French and international democractic forces to move quickly with all available means to end this situation in Syria and support the Syrian people in its battle for freedom, and called for democracy in Syria.

In turn, the Lebanese Democratic Left announced a sit-in in Beirut tonight in solidarity with the prisoners of conscience in Syria (Arabic. AKI, 5/22/06). It said in a statement, "this latest wave is but an example that confirms the method of the authoritarian Syrian regime in dealing with any blossoming democratic movement in Syria and even in Lebanon," adding that the Lebanese people "will remain the first supporter of the Syrian people deprived of their most basic civil rights."

A number of Lebanese politicians, intellectuals and journalists had issued calls for the release of the detainees, and Lebanese papers were filled with columns and opinion pieces condemning the arrests and expressing solidarity with the detainees. (Statements by Lebanese and Syrian figures and organizations condemning the arrest of Michel Kilo and others and calling for the release of prisoners of conscience can be seen here, here, and here. [Arabic. ME Transparent, May 15, 16, and 17 respectively.])

Also, ten Syrian and Arab human rights organizations issued an international petition condemning "the dictatorial and totalitarian policy of the ruling regime," and asking for the release of the detained intellectuals and activists and for "the lifting of the state of emergency, abolishing extraordinary courts, the return of Syrian exiles to their homeland, and the establishment of a consitutional democratic state with rule of law." (Arabic. AKI, 5/22/06). Jordanian journalists, activists, and intellectuals also condemned the regime's crackdown and arrest of dissidents and intellectuals. (Arabic. Ahrar Syria, 5/18/06).

Human Rights Watch had also condemned the campaign and called for the immediate release of the detainees. The organization's deputy director for the ME and North Africa division said that the arrest of respected critics like Bunni and Kilo "shows that the Syrian government has no interest in peaceful homegrown reform."

The EU's presidency also issued a statement (PDF file) condemning the arrests. The Syrian government quickly and strongly rejected the statement, calling it blatant interference in Syrian domestic affairs. It filed a protest with the ambassarods ot the EU Commission and Austria (which currently holds the EU presidency). Syria's information minister even said during a meeting with the Danish ambassador that Syria was "an example to be followed" when it comes to citizens' rights (Arabic. "Free Syria," 5/23/06).

In related news, a spokesman from the Europe-based opposition group "Rally for Syria" toldElaph that this negative attitude towards the EU will only increase the regime's isolation (Arabic. 5/22/06). Fahd al-Masri added that the Rally will ask through EU MPs for the recalling of European ambassadors and for the freezing of diplomatic relations with Syria. He also said that a legal suit will be filed against the Syrian regime for their crimes against the Syrian people. The suit will be filed with the French courts, the European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg, and the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Syrian analyst Ammar Abdulhamid also called for recalling ambassadors in a post on his weblog.

The Rally has been engaged in efforts to reach out to members of the EU parliament and to lobby for support for the rights of the Syrian people and the ending of human rights abuses and emergency laws in Syria. (Arabic. Elaph via "Free Syria," 5/19/06). Various anonymous EU MPs and diplomats were quoted as saying that they want the UN and the EU to follow the UN resolutions against the Syrian regime with firm action ensuring their application so as not to render them tootheless, thereby exposing dissidents in Syria and the fragile Lebanese government to retaliation from the regime (Arabic. With Agencies, via "Free Syria," 5/20/06).

He said the charge was not directed against other detained rights activists, "a matter that raises our deep concerns."

Rihawi quoted an official source as telling him that the accused will be convicted of the charges filed against them, but will be released later by a special pardon from President Assad.

It was first reported that Bunni, along with nine other signatories to the Beirut-Damascus Declaration, was being charged with "inciting sectarian conflict, undermining the state, disseminating false news, and defamation." Some of the charges could carry a life sentence if he is convicted.

AKI reported that human rights sources in Syria have confirmed that activist Anwar al-Bunni has been on a hunger strike since his arrest last Wednesday despite efforts by fellow activists to dissuade him (Arabic. 5/22/06). Bunni's lawyers have also confirmed that he has been subjected to beatings along with two other detainees held after signing a joint declaration (the "Beirut-Damascus Declaration") with Lebanese intellectuals. Amnesty International namedNidal Darwish as one of those who were beaten during interrogation. Darwish was arrested last Tuesday along with Mahmoud Mer'i, in the ongoing campaign against the signatories of the declaration (Arabic. ME Transparent, 5/17/06).

Levant News also reported that on Monday, a group of lawyers and former detainees paid a visit to the ten detainees who are signatories to the Beirut-Damascus Declaration (BDD), as well as to Ali Abdallah and his son Muhammad, Fateh Jamous and Kamal Labwani, all of whom are being held at the Adra prison near Damascus (Arabic. 5/23/06). The detainees spoke of their harsh conditions, where they are being placed with criminal prisoners, and not political ones, yet they are being denied the privileges afforded even to criminal prisoners.

They told the lawyers that they have no beds, mattresses, or blankets and have been sleeping on the cell floor. Furthermore, they asserted that other prisoners have been instructed not to offer or even sell them anything, be it blankets or any other necessities, and have even forbidden inmates from speaking to them under threat of retribution. One prisoner was said to have been thrown in solitary confinement for lending a blanket to Fateh Jamous, while another was threatened for exchanging greetings with him. Nevertheless, lawyers said their morale was very high. Earlier reports spoke of Ali Abdallah's son Muhammad being forced to sign false testimonies under duress (Arabic. Elaph, 5/15/06).

The detainees were also allowed to sit all together with the lawyers. However, Ammar Qurabi of the National Organization for Human Rights told Levant News, "it is clear that prison is now the only place where the opposition is allowed to meet."

The cases of the charged detained signatories to the BDD were added to that of Michel Kilo who was the first among them to be arrested. At first, Kilo was referred to the judiciary without knowing what the charges against him were (Arabic. AKI, 5/16/05). The charges were then revealed: "weakening nationalist sentiment" and "inciting sectarian conflict" as well as "undermining the state," "disseminating false news" and "defamation." Some of the charges could carry a life sentence. At the very least, he is facing a year according to a law that prohibits participation in any political or social grouping "of an international character" without permission, which carries a sentence of 3 months to 3 years (Arabic. Levant News, 5/17/06). The judge handling the case levelled the same charges against the remaining BDD detainees at their interrogation session (Arabic. An-Nahar via "Free Syria," 5/22/06). Ammar Qurabi was quoted as saying that his organization (NOHR) "would provide a large number of lawyers to defend these detainees which the organization considers prisoners of conscience."

May 17, 2006

Syrian security forces arrested prominent human rights lawyer and activist Anwar al-Bunni earlier today (Reuters, 5/17/06). The arrest comes as part of a large wave of arrests of several activists (Arabic. Levant News, 5/17/06), including prominent political activist and writer, Michel Kilo, who was detained three days ago. Bunni had come out in condemnation of Kilo's arrest.

The apparent reason for the arrests is a joint declaration signed by 274 Lebanese and Syrian intellectuals which calls, among other things, for a correction of Syrian-Lebanese relations and the recognition of Lebnon's sovereignty and independence, starting with demarcating the borders and exchanging embassies with Lebanon (Arabic. ME Transparent, 5/11/06). Both Bunni and Kilo were signatories to the declaration, called The Beirut-Damascus/Damascus-Beirut Declaration.

Yesterday, two other signatories, human rights lawyer and activist Nidal Darwish and secretary general of the Arab Organization for Human Rights Mahmoud Mer'i, were also arrested. And then today, Mahmoud Issa (former detainee, Communist activist), Safwan Tayfour (activist), Khalil Hussein (Kurdish Future Current), and Khaled Khalifeh, were all arrested, and all are signatories, although there seems to have been a case of mistaken identity with Khalifeh; a writer with the same name did sign the declaration (AFP, 5/17/06). There are also summons for Suleiman al-Shammar (political activist) and Kamal Sheikho (human rights activist), both of whom are signatories to the declaration.

Bunni's wife toldElaph that the arrest was made outside the house, as Bunni was opening his car door (Arabic. 5/17/06). His brother Akram, himself an activist and a signatory to the declaration who had just returned from Madrid, added that the arrest was more like a kidnapping, as the security forces did not summon Bunni. Instead, they staked him outside his house, and as he tried to open his car door, they rushed him and took him away screaming.

Bunni's arrest was preceded by having his license to practice law revoked for up to four years last week (Financial Times, 5/15/06). In March, the regime also shut down the (mainly EU-funded) human rights center that he led. He is also the spokesman for the Hurriyat center (National Center for the Defense of the Freedom of Journalists and the Press in Syria) headed by Michel Kilo.

The Elaph report noted that some Syrian officials are referring to the Beirut-Damascus Declaration as the "March 14th Declaration," in reference to the anti-regime coalition, which holds the majority in Lebanon's parliament and cabinet and which has been making similar calls as those of the Beirut-Damascus Declaration, and has appealed to the UN Security Council to pressure Syria on these points. This led to the introduction of a draft resolution, sponsored by the US, France, and Britain, calling on Syria to fully recognize Lebanon's independence by demarcating the borders and exchanging embassies with its neighbor, and to cease interference in its internal affairs. The resolution passed today by a majority of 13 votes, with Russia and China abstaining.

The comparison with the March 14th coalition is telling and suggests, as Bahia Mardini notes, that discussing Syrian-Lebanese relations, or rather, holding positions that go against the regime's line on this issue, is now a new prohibited red line in Syria (Arabic. Elaph, 5/17/06). Political analyst Michael Young agrees: "The Syrian regime was no doubt sending a domestic message that that
link between the Syrian opposition and their comrades across the border
must cease."

Ammar Abdulhamid commented on the wave of arrests on his blog, noting its timing (as the UN Security Council was discussing the draft resolution): "one thing is becoming clear: the Assad regime is throwing the glove in the face of the international community and all its resolutions." He added, "unless an explicit message is
sent to the Assads to the effect that such confrontational policies
will only serve to increase their international isolation, the
crackdown against activists will continue and could easily escalate to
include all notable opposition figures in the country."

May 16, 2006

More news came out over the weekend on the plight of political prisoners Fateh Jamous and Ali Abdallah and his sons.

On Friday, Elaphreported, quoting Ammar Qurabi of the National Organization for Human Rights (NOHR), that the security forces had transfered Ali and his son Muhammad to the Adra prison from the military prison of Saydnaya where they had been held incommunicado (Arabic. 5/12/06). However, Abdallah's other son, Omar, is still being held at the Saydnaya prison. Abdallah's wife and lawyers had tried to visit him in Saydnaya after finally knowing his whereabouts, but they were denied access for not having clearance from the security branch that made the arrest. It was later learned that it was the Military Security branch (Arabic. Levant News, 5/12/06).

Furthermore, the charges against Ali and Muhammad were still unclear despite setting the date for a trial session in mid June. Omar, along with several of his friends, is facing charges of organizing an illegal youth gathering. Qurabi added that the charges against Abdallah might be changed, which could result in a change of the court where he would be tried from the State Security Court to perhaps a regular court.

Lawyer Khalil Maatouq of NOHR toldElaph on Saturday that Ali and Muhammad are being prosecuted based on articles in Syrian law that fall under "Gathering for agitation" and "Demeaning [the judiciary and the head of state]" (Arabic. Via "Free Syria," 5/13/06). The charges carry sentences of six months to two years. It was said that Ali and Muhammad were arrested after arguing with a judge of the State Security Court in Damascus.

Fateh Jamous was also transfered last Thursday from the Saydnaya military prison to the Adra prison on the outskirts of Damascus. He had been on a three-day hunger strike. However, he was transfered without being formally charged.

Jamous and the Abdallahs (Ali and Muhammad) were then referred to the civil court where they were supposed to appear on Saturday. However, when their lawyers arrived at the court, all three defendants were absent. It turned out that the security authorities at the Adra prison did not allow them to appear in court even as they told their families that were referred to court (Arabic. "Free Syria," 5/14/06). The authorities' behavior sparked fears in human rights circles that the charges against them may be altered to more severe ones carrying life sentences. The same thing happened with Kamal Labwani, the charges against whom were suddenly, and illegally, changed and he is now facing a life sentence if convicted.

However, lawyers did say they learned that the defendants would be referred to a regular court, and not the State Security Court.

Human rights activist Ammar Qurabi had said that Jamous' interrogation did not touch on the charge of incitement against Syria before a foreign state (Arabic. NOHR via "Free Syria," 5/13/06). Yet a pro-regime publication, Cham Press, did cite leaks from "judicial sources" that Jamous and the Abdallahs were being charged with "provoking [sectarian] discord, attacking the authorities, incitement, and contacting hostile groups in foreign countries." and "coordinating with the Muslim Brotherhood." (Arabic. Levant News, 5/13/06). It was also said that Jamous would be charged for "presenting false information about alleged human rights abuses in Syria to a hostile international organization," in reference to Amnesty International. (Arabic. Levant News, 5/12/06). Jamous had appeared on al-Jazeera and criticized the regime.

Indeed, according to Qurabi, Jamous is now being prosecuted on charges of "[provoking] Discord" (provoking civil war and sectarian fighting), which carries a life sentence with hard labor. As for Abdallah, so far he is only looking at two years in prison.

Commenting on these charges against Jamous, lawyer Khalil Maatouq toldElaph that these charges "are the most serious yet against an opposition activist outside of the Muslim Brotherhood." (Arabic. Via "Free Syria," 5/13/06). He added, "It means that any traveling activist must think twice about returning to Syria, because it will cost them a great deal. It does not matter if while abroad they say that they will not ally with Khaddam, the MB, or the US to affect change in Syria, or even if they say they are with nationalist democratic change from within, or even change through the regime itself," pointing out that the charges were all false and based on no evidence whatsoever.

May 15, 2006

The Associated Press reports that prominent Syrian writer and activist Michel Kilo was detained Sunday days after he signed a petition calling on the regime to correct its relations with Lebanon.

Kilo's daughter, Shaza, told AP that her father was summoned by the security police at noon on Sunday and did not return home.

Kilo is a well-know political commentator whose articles have been regularly featured in the anti-Asad leading Lebanese daily, An-Nahar, among others.

Ammar Qurabi of the National Organization for Human Rights (NOHR) said he believes the arrest has to do with Kilo's signing a joint statement last week, along with 274 Syrian and Lebanese intellectuals (Arabic. Elaph, 5/15/06). The rather moderate statement did call for a radical correction of Syrian-Lebanese relations "starting with a final Syrian recognition of Lebanon's independence, as well as border demarcation and diplomatic exchange between the two countries." (Arabic. ME Transparent, 5/11/06). The statement coincided with a draft UN Security Council resolution sponsored by the US, France, and Britain, calling on Syria to do just that.

It also condemned "political assassination as a criminal way of dealing with opposition and of solving political disputes." Moreover, it stressed "the need to facilitate the work of the international investigation committee in order to uncover those responsible for incitement, organization, and execution in the crime of the assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and his companions, as well as the other crimes," calling for their punishment according to international law. Furthermore, it called for the release of all Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons, and asked the Syrian authorities to reveal the fate of missing persons.

Kilo is expected to be referred to court, as has been done recently with political detainees like Fateh Jamous, Ali Abdallah and his sons, and Muhammad Ghanem and others.

The NOHR issued a statement condemning Kilo's arrest and considered it "shocking, especially since Kilo represents political moderation in Syria." It called for his immediate release.

Lebanese Civil Society group "Hayya Bina," issued a statement noting the timing of the arrest on the eve of the one-year memorial of the assassination of Lebanese journalist Samir Qassir, who had strong ties with members of the Syrian opposition, and encouraged them to publish their writings in An-Nahar where he worked. Qassir's assassination, the statement said, "was a result of his insistence on the unity of the democratic struggle in Lebanon and Syria."

"Michel Kilo's arrest, aside from the coincidence in its timing, confirms the view held by Qassir that there could be no equal relation between Lebanon and Syria so long as the deadly contrast in the nature of their respective systems of government persisted," it said.

May 12, 2006

Labwani, the founder of the Liberal Democratic Gathering, was arrested in November of last year upon returning to Damascus from a tour in Europe and the US where he met with NSC officials. He is being tried on trumped up charges of inciting a foreign state to
initiate aggression against Syria, as well as propagating false
information abroad.

Labwani and his lawyers were not informed of the incitement charge, which was not leveled at Labwani prior to yesterday's questioning (the earlier charges were "diminishing the stature of the state and making statements that sap the nation's morale and weaken nationalist sentiment.") That drew an objection from his legal team who considered the charge illegal. Nevertheless, one of his lawyers Abdel Rahim Ghamazeh told Elaph that Labwani's spirits were high and that the questioning was calm albeit the charge was illegal.

Ghamazeh added that Labwani said that his visit to the US and Europe and his meeting with US officials was to defend the country as well as the Syrian citizens and their rights.

Another of Labwani's lawyers, Anwar al-Bunni, said that Labwani confirmed all the statements attributed to him from his appearances on Al-Hurra and Al-Mustaqilla stations (Arabic. AFP via Ahrar Syria, 5/12/06).

Labwani reportedly stressed that his words were nothing more than his political opinions that he has been proclaiming openly in Syria as well as abroad (Arabic. Levant News, 5/12/06). He reiterated his position which opposed any military action against Syria and his rejection of violence altogether. He also stressed his continued commitment to "democracy and the basic rights of citizens which appear in the contitution and the International Bill of Human Rights."

Labwani, who was imprisoned for three years in 2001, said that he returned to Syria voluntarily adding, "countries are not built on prisons, but on dialogue."